Obama Calls for Capping Class Time Devoted to Standardized Tests

Education Department to make it easier for states to satisfy federal mandates

WASHINGTON—The Obama administration announced Saturday that it was taking steps to curb the amount of time students in public schools spend preparing for and taking standardized tests, and called for Congress to follow its lead as it rewrites the nation’s federal education laws.

The Department of Education laid out new guidelines for standardized tests, eased federal rules on testing where possible and promised new commitments to states and local governments to help them revaluate their testing programs.